A Sip of France!

The Pullman in Gurgaon has risen from the ashes, figuratively that is. It’s pretty tucked away and I am sure they are battling typical woes like the drive-up, the view etc. as most properties in Gurgaon do. But like most smart properties they have begun to work around all of that! They are home to the only French restaurant (to be launched) in this expat heavy town, they have a new bar on the anvil and over time, Senses, their coffee shop has come around to offer some very unique fare.

I was back there last week for an event Pullman hosted, celebrating the traditional French wine festival – Beaujolais Nouveau 2012 under the exclusive patronage of The Embassy of France, in collaboration with Air France and Atout France. The weather Gods decided to play truant and the event could no longer be held at the rooftop. Kudos to Team Pullman for shifting the entire program to the ballroom; indeed a feat. As a guest we didn’t feel anything amiss.

The evening flowed beautifully, the wine was gorgeous, the staff very endearing; I don’t think my glass was ever empty. And the food, oh dear God, the food, it was fabulous. Brownie points for this effort goes to their bevy of Chef’s because as much as we think French food is the thing, there has to be a careful selection of dishes which will suit varied palates. The nouveau wine was accompanied with a wide array of cheeses and charcuterie especially flown in from France. This French extraordinaire menu was prepared by Pullman themselves to compliment the nouveau passions and revel in the spirit of celebrations. Which is exactly what everyone did.

The artisan breads and cheese were a true treat since it isn’t easy to find a ripened Brie that’s dying to be relished; the oysters were fresher than the ones I had in Dubai, very much a seaside city and a gourmand one at that! I loved the idea of a smidgen of onion puree on the oyster, it added so much to the flavour. The chicken in red wine sauce was made for this season; I could see people heading for seconds and thirds. Even the cold cuts were not the usual; all in all, this was meant to be an experiential evening and that’s exactly what it turned out to be. Lots of wine and good food can only be justified if the dessert is as engaging. The Dessert counter was beautiful – dainty Financiers, perfect Macarons, delicate Opera pastries, delicious crepes and the ultimate Creme Brulee; definitely one of the best I have eaten. See, that’s the thing about simple foods, they are a terrific gauge of a kitchen; if a cafe can do a killer Caesar, if a tandoor can do a perfect roti, if a bar can do a perfect mojito, you’re in the right place. So in that respect, completing my meal with Pullman’s Creme Brulee was indeed a royal finish to a very French evening.

I am looking forward to the kitchens this Hotel produces, the talent was evident and so was the warmth, the makings of a successful venture. Can’t wait to go check out the French restaurant, so watch this space for more!

Raising a toast to the celebration, Jagan Lascher, General Manager, Pullman Gurgaon Central Park said, “We are extremely happy to host the uncorking of the French vintage – Beaujolais Nouveau 2012 at Pullman Gurgaon Central Park. It gives us an opportunity to introduce our guests to this age old tradition associated with French Heritage at our new attitude hotel. We look forward to such opportunities in the future to provide world class experiences to our patrons. It also comes at a fantastic time, since we will soon be launching La Riviera, the hotel’s first specialty restaurant with a collection of eclectic French wines paired with the Southern French – Italian cuisine served at the restaurant”.

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[learn_more caption=”About Pullman Hotels”]

About the Hotel: Pullman is the upscale international hotel brand of Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator, present in 92 countries with over 3,500 hotels and 160,000 employees. Located in the main regional and international cities and in prime tourist destinations, Pullman Hotels & Resorts is principally designed to cater for the requirements of cosmopolitan, seasoned travelers. The brand’s four and five-star establishments provide an extensive range of tailored services, access to groundbreaking technologies, including a new approach to organizing events: meetings, seminars and upscale incentive events.